OPTIMIZATION SEAT OF BACK REST OF A CAR

With the goal of reduced weight, free-size finite element based optimization with constraints on stresses and deflection of a car seat backrest manufactured from low strength steel plate is performed using an ANSYS software. In the free-size optimization, sheet metal thickness in a finite element plate of the backrest is design variables with stress and deflection limits as the constraints, with an objective to minimize mass. Using the results from the free-size optimization and a minimum draw-able sheet metal thickness, a final design is derived which obtains a total mass reduction. To verify the functional performance of the final design, the final optimized seat backrest is performed using the ANSYS software package. Results from the analysis provide an accurate prediction of the material yielding and load distribution on the backrest plate provide factor of safety estimates on yield and ultimate strength.